In Minecraft, pufferfish are primarily used for brewing Water Breathing potions, while tropical fish are essential for breeding axolotls and taming cats. Both fish types also have additional uses ranging from trading to decorative purposes.
Pufferfish Uses in Minecraft
Pufferfish are distinctive and somewhat dangerous aquatic creatures found in Minecraft's oceans, known for their unique utility despite their poisonous nature.
1. Brewing Water Breathing Potions
The most significant and practical use for a pufferfish is in alchemy. By combining a pufferfish with an Awkward Potion in a brewing stand, players can create a Potion of Water Breathing. This invaluable potion grants the ability to breathe underwater for a set duration, making it crucial for:
- Exploring deep ocean biomes.
- Looting shipwrecks and ocean ruins.
- Venturing into ocean monuments to battle Elder Guardians.
- Discovering underwater caves without the risk of drowning.
2. Poisonous Food Source
While technically edible, consuming a raw pufferfish directly is generally not recommended for players. It applies a series of negative status effects:
- Poison IV for 15 seconds, rapidly depleting health.
- Hunger III for 15 seconds.
- Nausea I for 15 seconds.
Due to these severe effects, pufferfish are typically only eaten in extreme emergencies or for specific in-game challenges.
3. Trading with Fisherman Villagers
Fisherman villagers, identifiable by their fishing boat workstation, may offer trades for raw pufferfish. Players can sell their excess pufferfish to these villagers in exchange for valuable emeralds, providing a renewable source of currency.
4. Composting
Pufferfish can be placed into a composter to increase its compost level, with a 50% chance of adding a layer. This process ultimately yields bone meal, which can be used as fertilizer for crops or to grow trees instantly.
Tropical Fish Uses in Minecraft
Tropical fish are vibrant and diverse aquatic mobs that inhabit warm ocean biomes. They are highly versatile, serving multiple purposes from animal husbandry to decorative elements.
1. Breeding Axolotls
Tropical fish are the sole food item required to breed axolotls, the adorable aquatic mobs introduced in the Caves & Cliffs update. Feeding two adult axolotls tropical fish will cause them to enter love mode and produce a baby axolotl. Additionally, holding a bucket of tropical fish will make axolotls follow the player, making them easier to transport.
2. Taming Cats and Ocelots
Tropical fish can be used to tame stray cats and ocelots, turning these wild animals into loyal companions. Taming a cat or ocelot provides benefits such as deterring creepers (cats) and general companionship. They are an accessible alternative to raw cod or raw salmon for this purpose.
3. Trading with Fisherman Villagers
Just like pufferfish, raw tropical fish can be traded with Fisherman villagers for emeralds. This offers another reliable method for converting collected fish into valuable resources for other villager trades or crafting.
4. Decorative Aquariums
With their wide array of colors and patterns—over 2,700 unique variants—tropical fish are incredibly popular for aesthetic purposes. Players often catch them in buckets and place them in custom-built aquariums, decorative ponds, or elaborate underwater displays within their bases to enhance their builds.
5. Minimal Food Source
While tropical fish are technically edible for players, they restore a mere 1 hunger point and 0.2 saturation. This makes them a very inefficient food source compared to almost any other food item in the game, and they are rarely consumed for sustenance.
Summary of Fish Uses
To provide a quick overview of their primary functions in Minecraft:
| Fish Type | Primary Uses | Other Noteworthy Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Pufferfish | Brewing Water Breathing Potions | Poisonous food (not recommended), Trading with Fisherman villagers, Composting |
| Tropical Fish | Breeding Axolotls, Taming Cats/Ocelots | Decorative aquariums, Trading with Fisherman villagers, Minimal food, Composting |
